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Post by nintendonut1 on Nov 10, 2011 19:29:07 GMT -5
Amazingly, the demon responded favorably and honored their request, setting the stone statue of Wax calmly on the ground. When it was clear there would be no Strifing to be had, John gladly put his hammer away, beaming at Branch's change of heart.
"Nah... thank YOU," he replied. "I'm used to the differences between good and evil being pretty obvious... I guess this world's a lot more complicated than that, because you're definitely not a bad guy yourself!"
He faltered only a little bit at the proposed handshake, only because those powerful arms seemed intimidating. Still, honoring his creed, he reached out and grasped it, and when he didn't spontaneously combust as a result, he grinned and shook his hand. "And the Heir of Breath and Rogue of Heart won't hesitate to come to your aid either!"
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Post by shiftyPotentate on Nov 10, 2011 19:46:55 GMT -5
Another victory for careful speech. Not everything had to be solved with violence. If only the rest of her kind had learned that. She felt naturally against violence, as if in a past life she'd been a follower of a troll who'd preached that selfsame message.
"Thanks fur listening," she said, shaking Branch's hand as well. "Now we have to figure out how to bring him back!" John had found all the wicks before, but would they bring him back? She seemed eager to find out. Poor Wax needed his body back!
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Post by ryocker on Nov 10, 2011 20:30:40 GMT -5
Branch smiled. "It surprises me to learn that others have titles to their names as well," he mused. "And as for Waxevius, if his heart is anywhere nearby-" he turned his eyes to the fireball floating behind the kids- yep, that was him. "-then he'll be able to revive on his own."
Branch turned and began to leave. "Although I'd love to get to know you better, I best be on my way. But hear this- I'm talented in the ways of recognition, so I'll most likely be there if something bad happens to any of you, understand?" Still walking away, he lifted up his right hand in wave- it looked odd, with all of those chains sealing it into a humanoid shape.
Once Branch was far enough away, Wax's heart approached his body. It hovored, then moved toward the wick. Wax knew just placing himself on it wouldn't work... so he had to follow instinct.
Wax began to hover around his wick clockwise, becoming faster and faster as his rotations were completed. His fire seemed to become brrighter as well- before long it had become a powerfully burning halo, with a strange light, something similar to a spirit, entering the wick. Slowly, the stone cold grey of Wax's body began to shed off, his black wax becoming recognizable again. Once his body had its true color back and his flame couldn't become any brighter, the ring finally enclosed on the wick- creating a powerful flash of light that could've very well filled the whole caves.
"Whooooaaaa!" The ignewax behind them called, his flame seemingly becoming stronger. "This feels awesome! It's like his light is restoring whatever was left of my body back to me!"
Once the light had died down, Wax was grinning at everyone. "Aaaaw YEAH, BAYBEH!" he roared, pumping his fists. "WAXEVIUS IS BACK IN THE WORLD OF THE LIVING! And man I feel good- It felt like every ignewax that was killed off rejuvinated with me!" he laughed, flexing his bod a bit. "But anyway-" Almost without warning he picked up John in a hug. "Man you're a smart guy! One of the coolest guys I think I've ever met- Not many beat you in the awesomeness regard, at least!"
Putting him down, he turned to Nepeta and embraced her gently- not unlike the embrace he gave her the first time. "...and Nepeta... I missed you too." he recalled her earlier words, embers flying from his eyes. "I wish i could've kept close to you guys after we touched down. I know it would've made me feel better to become better friends with you guys, atleast." Slowly breaking from their hug, he looked up. "At the very least tell me where you guys live- I'd love to pay a visit sometime."
And of course- the Ignewax cuddling against his lower body. "Master waxevius, you're so awesome!" he cried, doing what looked like snuggling. "I really wanna just stay here and talk a bit more, but it looks like you guys are kinda busy... so I'll check on who's left in the caves." sliding away, he looked back. "Good luck with whatever you're doing, you three!"
A bit confused, Wax repeated, "Three?! Since when did I-... oh yeah! Once a part of it, always apart of it, right?" Chuckling, he turned back to John and Nepeta, crossing his arms, then winking. "Looks like you'll have to put up with me just a little bit longer you two!"
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Post by nintendonut1 on Nov 10, 2011 20:57:59 GMT -5
If the revival of the ignewax was cool, then Wax's revival was completely out of this world. Naturally, the moirails flinched at the bright flash, and by the time it had died down, John felt himself scooped up into a hearty hug, laughing and flailing just a bit in response.
And really, it felt good to hear those compliments! Frankly he could think of a million other people way cooler than him, but that would just spoil the moment, so he simply smiled and took the praise with a humble nod. His grin softened at the sweet reunion between him and Nepeta, and was greatly encouraged to hear the rest of the tribe of candles had revived too!
"Eheh... yeah, sorry! We all got caught up with finally meeting up with a lot of our friends!" John explained in response to Wax. "We still haven't found them all, but we're keeping our hopes up! We have a whole wing reserved for everyone at the Apartment Complex in Void City, you should drop by some time!"
But yes, right! Back to why they were here in the first place. He glanced around, noting the details of the decayed temple, then turning to Nepeta. "Well... we're here... guess we should start poking around until we find something of interest, right?"
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Post by shiftyPotentate on Nov 11, 2011 0:33:43 GMT -5
Along with John Nepeta covered her eyes as the bright flash came, and when it cleared, she was relieved to see him restored to full health. As he hugged John, she giggled at how he flailed about, and when he came for her, she wrapped her arms around him, purring at the familiar warmth, soft texture, and comfort of the hug. Her tail flittered about in happiness.
Nepeta found a map of Void City on Google Dimensional Island (which was never a thing that didn't exist or anything) and showed Wax where the apartment complex was on her tablet. She casually checked Pesterchum to see if anyone else had come online. Other than the usual (ectoBiologist, turntechGodhead, caligulasAquarium), she did see one name that got her excited.
carcinoGeneticist.
Karkitty.
She kept her excitement to herself, there was time to talk to him later. He was probably busy being a leader.
"Yeah, there should be some clues or something somewhere!" she said, captchaloguing her tablet again, as well as the mini wick from before.
It looked like there were a series of smaller hallways that led to large chambers with puzzles in them, Legend of Zelda style. The current large room looked like it had two pathways marked out that required two different people to press switches to allow the other person through to the next one. Nepeta found it odd that the temple had been planned with multiple explorers in mind. Perhaps she was fated to come here with John? Was it another contrivance of paradox space?
Who cares puzzles are fun!
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Post by ryocker on Nov 11, 2011 0:44:14 GMT -5
Wax looked at the map rather curiously. "Huh... Now I know technology abounds and everything, but MAN that's cool," he admitted, getting the general idea of where to head in case he wanted to see John and Nepeta again. ...And the rest of their friends, if Apartment complex wasn't a big enough hint at that.
"So then..." Wax huffed, looking around. "Two paths, and a third one sealed off. Who should go where for this one?" He crossed his arms. Though he had a general feeling he was no longer needed, sticking around seemed like a good idea...
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Post by nintendonut1 on Nov 11, 2011 1:38:04 GMT -5
Now that he had a chance to look around, the creepy atmosphere of the Heart Temple was seriously giving John a Legend of Zelda vibe. As a matter of fact, it was really beginning to remind him of the dungeons, filled with baddies and head-scratching—
Yup. Puzzles. “…huh.”
Experimentally, John stepped on the switch to their left, and the door beside it raised up. Stepping off, the bars came back down. “Hmm.”
He pursed his lips in thought as he kept looking around. Behind the doors, elevated walkways lined the wall of the chamber, leading up to an otherwise barred alcove above the massive main door. John hovered up to take a closer look; it had a huge chunk of stone with two pulleys, one on each side.
“I think,” he spoke down to them as he eased back to the ground. “…that the doors lead to two switches that unlock the main door. And it looks to me that they have to be pulled at the same time.”
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Post by shiftyPotentate on Nov 11, 2011 1:43:26 GMT -5
As John investigated the puzzle, Nepeta observed it as well. She didn't really have much to add, he seemed to have it right. She stepped up behind him and put her weight on the switch, opening the door in front of John.
"You go through here. See what you can do on the other side and it might pawssibly let me through on my side." Presumably, the two sides were meant to be done in tandem and the explorers working together to solve them. Partners who couldn't work together - who couldn't work as a single unit, one soul, one heart - could not gain access to the rest of the temple.
Heart was about cooperation, supportiveness, and friendship. The temple aimed to test that.
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Post by ryocker on Nov 11, 2011 1:54:57 GMT -5
Waxevius watched as John did. Two switches, two doors...
Something clicked in his head quite quickly.
"Better idea-" he called to Nepeta, stretching his arms out and grabbing her- pulling her off the switch and pretty much slamming the bars closed in John's face. "Now I know I shouldn't have anything to do with this, but the way I see it, the fact that there are two switches on the outside means something. There's a good chance there isn't any way for the other door to open up from John's end- so I decree we do this."
Sliding into the center of the room, Wax cleared his throat a bit. "Nepeta, get over to this side! It'll be a huge help, trust me!" Waiting for her to do so (and the obligatorily mentioned in a future post cue to do his action) Wax... started to raise his hands up. Not long after, they became two HUGE fists, and his elongated arms slammed them down on the switches, opening them up simultaneously. "This is where the synchronization part comes in, you two! Now let's get this thing done!"
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Post by nintendonut1 on Nov 11, 2011 2:03:14 GMT -5
John nodded to Nepeta and was about to open the door that was unlocked, but leaped back in surprise when it locked again.
“Huh?” He turned back to Wax, and as instructed, he waited by the left door. Wax brought up a good point as Nepeta moved over towards the right door, and with the candle’s help, both doors were unlocked simultaneously.
“Wha—oh!!” Well, that was one way to do it! “Awesome!” He opened his door and slid into the side tunnel, peeking out the stone bars to wave a thumbs-up to Wax. “Meet you on the other side, Nep!”
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Post by shiftyPotentate on Nov 11, 2011 2:22:01 GMT -5
"Whoa!" Wax had a good idea! Now they both could proceed simultaneously! "Thanks!" She gave John an affirmative nod and walked through her door.
She could see John on the far side of the walkways. He could probably fly over if he had to, but that wouldn't help the situation. From what she could tell, John's side involved, conveniently enough, wind-based puzzles involving propeller blades that he could cause to turn and sail-switches. If activated in a certain way, it would be solved, but if the switches weren't activated the right way, they reset. Time for the windy boy to go to work.
Her side, on the other hand, seemed to contain a flock of generic enemies. Imps, a few ogres, nothing too tough to handle. She drew her claws and got to work on the imps first, clearing out the small fry before moving on to the orges.
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Post by ryocker on Nov 11, 2011 2:26:53 GMT -5
Wax took advantage of his genetic make-up and slid around, watching the two of them work it. He especially enjoyed watching Nepeta work- he never saw creatures like those, save for maybe a shade imp- man those suckers were nasty...
"Keep it up guys!" Wax cheered. "Beat those puzzles to the point of complete destruction!"
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Post by nintendonut1 on Nov 11, 2011 2:42:58 GMT -5
Well, at least they seemed to pick the right doors! John was facing a series of interlocking walls, a three-dimensional maze, with sliding panels that slid across multiple gaps when activated by turbines on either side. In this maze were four main sectors, each with their own sail-switch. In order to open Nepeta’s door, they all had to be activated, in order, in a limited amount of time.
He had to admit… it was fucking intimidating to look at.
Even so, John puffed out his chest in determination and took flight, experimenting, following different paths, hitting many dead-ends. A lot of resetting, a lot of returning back to the start. It was beginning to get infuriating!! He really wish this was just a game, that he could just pull up Gamefaqs and cheat his way through it.
Technically with his lunchmuffs he could. But what would that have proved!?
Eventually, he activated the fourth switch, and the thick grinding of stone told him he had succeeded!!
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Post by shiftyPotentate on Nov 11, 2011 2:51:54 GMT -5
The Rogue busied herself with the monsters. Conveniently, they seemed to be in endless supply until John solved his puzzle. They dropped build grist and various grist artifacts, which was odd. Did that mean there were things like alchemiters around somewhere?
Nevertheless, Nepeta eagerly collected all the spoils, finishing off the last ogre with an acrobatic fucking leap off the ground and a clean slash right through. It exploded into a miniature grist windfall, and the door opened up. John's also parted company with the floor, letting him into a similar room full of monsters and imps, intending to keep him busy until Nepeta finished her task.
"Thanks, John!" she said, waving, and proceeding. Her puzzle presented her with a bit more abstract problem. There were several imps, though distinctly different from the fightable kind. These imps were evidently friends! Or they used to be. Each imp had differing values of relationship with each other. 100% meant they were inseparable buddies. 0% meant they couldn't stand even the thought of the other existing in the same universe.
Based on these differing values, Nepeta had to find a way to organize them, accounting for the relative interests in friendship, to take advantage of high relationship complements and minimize antagonism.
Blah blah blah make the imps feel at home.
After careful experimentation (and finding a lost doll one of the imps had taken from another), she positioned the five of the imps, so that each was beside two others he liked and distant enough from the one they hated.
The door graciously opened, revealing the final puzzle, and she stepped inside to see what it was...
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Post by ryocker on Nov 11, 2011 6:58:17 GMT -5
And eventually it got to the point Wax was becoming bored. "Okay, I know being a counter weight for the front is important and everything, but I get this feeling it involves more waiting than anything else."
He wanted to drop them and leave them- but what would be the point? No point doing it to his friends, of course. "...maybe I need a nap..." he mumbled.
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